Military
officer
dies in car
accident
Master Sgt. Jeffrey
Campbell died
Saturday in a
single-car accident
in Parker Heights,
Texas while
traveling back to
Texas A&M. He
was an active duty
non-commissioned
ofﬁcer at A&M
teaching military
science. During
Campbell’s tenure
as a military
ofﬁcer, he served
as a platoon
sergeant, Bradley
commander and
ﬁrst sergeant. He
has also been in
deployments for
combat in Iraq.
“Master Sgt.
Campbell was
very passionate
about instructing
and developing
cadets to serve the
U.S. Army in the
future,” said Major
Hazard, Campbell’s
direct supervisor.
“It’s a frustrating
and unfortunate
event for me and
the entire Corps
of Cadets.” The
Corps of Cadets
performed an Echo
Taps Tuesday
night in Campbell’s
honor. During
the Echo Taps,
cadets assemble
to formation at
the quad. There
will be a memorial
ceremony to
honor Campbell
at 3 p.m. today in
Rudder Theatre.
The ceremony will
feature a 21-gun
salute. Between
2 p.m. and 4:30
p.m., there will
be multiple
occasions where
the guns will be
ﬁred during the
ceremony.
Roland Ruiz,
special to
The Battalion

inside

b!

music | 6
Rockin’
on the air
guitar
An air guitar
competition and
fundraiser will be
Friday at the Skyy
Bar on Northgate.

sports | 3
On the
road
The No. 5 A&M
women’s basketball
team traveled to
Austin to face off
with the archrivals. Reporter
Mike Teague went
along for the ride.

Pg. 1-03.10.11.indd 1

Jorge Montalvo — THE BATTALION

Springing into break
Aggies celebrate the coming of spring in variety of ways
Trevor Stevens
Special to The Battalion
Flowers bloom, birds migrate north,
temperatures rise and beachside hotels
overflow with vacationing college students to mark the end of winter and
the arrival of spring break. The celebration of spring is a long-standing
tradition, and with a week off from
classes, many A&M students are hitting the road.
Since ancient Greece, people all
over the world celebrate the arrival of
spring. However, spring break did not
become what it is today until its inadvertent creation in 1936, when collegiate swimming coach Sam Ingram

traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from
Colgate University in New York with
his swim team to train at Florida’s first
Olympic-size pool, the Casino Pool.
Two years later, to take advantage of
the market opportunity for the local
economy, Fort Lauderdale presented
the first College Coaches’ Swim Forum at the Casino Pool, bringing
droves of college students to the city.
By the 1960s, with thousands of
college students flooding the city at the
end of winter, Fort Lauderdale established itself as the spring break capitol
of the country. This spurred neighboring cities, such as Daytona Beach, to
create collegiate attraction with advertisement and cinematic propaganda.

Today, apart from the connection to beach and beer, the concept
of spring break varies from person to
person.
“It depends on who you are asking. If you were to ask the University,
you would probably hear that it is a
break from school mid-semester from
academic responsibilities. If you were
to ask a typical college student, you
would most likely hear it’s a break to
relax and have a week-long party,”
said Kate Fuller, a junior recreational
parks and tourism major. “Ultimately
it’s a break in the routine of school to
spend however one wants, whether
it’s traveling, spending time with family or serving.”

There are many possibilities for
college students to utilize the week of
vacation from school. Some A&M students will take to the road to celebrate
the break from classes. Kait Sampson,
a sophomore political science major,
is planning a road trip with friends to
New Braunfels and Galveston.
“Spring break is necessary for college students to have a chance to stop
from going absolutely crazy from the
stress of school. It definitely gives me
enough of a breather to power through
the rest of the semester,” Sampson said.
A&M students are also using the
time during the break to serve comSee History on page 2

UPD gives safety tips Students mix up plans
Alex Lotz
The Battalion
As students count down the days
to spring break, many do not think
to lock up their belongings or plan
ahead to ensure their safety during the
break. The Texas A&M University
Police Department is making safety
the number one priority to remind
students of ways to keep them safe.
Officials emphasized the importance of making sure all windows and
doors are locked in student’s houses,
apartments and dorms. They encourage students to make arrangements, if
possible, to have a neighbor or friend
pick up mail and newspapers to make
it look like the house is occupied.
This will make burglars less inclined
to break in.

Violence updates
Updates and maps about the recent
violence in popular Mexico vacation
spots can be found at http://travel.
state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html
“Do not pack your car the night
before. It only makes a more attractive target for a thief,” said Sgt. H.
Allan Baron of the University Police
Department.
Taking precautions to maintain
safety during spring break might seem
overly cautious to some students, but
it is a priority nonetheless.
“I am planning every aspect of my
trip in advance,” said Alexa ArmSee Safety on page 4

Rebecca Hutchinson
The Battalion
For many students, spring break is
a time to take a brief respite from the
stress of classes, or for some graduating seniors, it is the chance to make
the last college vacation count.
Students will be on spring break
March 14 – 19. Some are taking the
typical route partying on South Padre
Island, while some plan to catch up
on sleep.
There are other Aggies, however,
who have alternative plans for this
upcoming hiatus from classes.
“I’m just going to Dallas,” said
Meagan Klinkenberg,a sophomore
international studies major. “There’s
this music festival thing there, but I
don’t know if I’m going.”

Several students replied with the
standard response of uncertainty.
Plans for spring break are not always
concrete, but the general answers
were home, Austin, Dallas, sleeping
and concerts. A few students said they
were going out of state.
With the weather warming up,
spring break is a popular time for students to branch off and explore other
parts of the U.S. or other parts of the
world.
“I’m headed to California; abandoning all responsibility,” said Amy
Polglase, a senior international studies
major.
This will be her first time on the
West Coast, and Polglase said she is
See Alternative on page 4

campus

Preacher sparks debates, attracts crowd
Emily Villani
The Battalion
Christina Cedillo, an English graduate student, was one in the crowd of
students who gathered around Tom
Short, a man who has been debating
with students about issues concerning
Christianity in Academic Plaza since
the beginning of the week.
“Who is this weirdo?” Cedillo said.
“I guess I just don’t understand who
invited this extremist to come and try

to cause problems on our campus,”
Cedillo said. “I’m assuming he considers himself a Christian and just by
the fact that he’s doing this seems to
me that he has no idea what it means
to be a real Christian.”
The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law ... abridging
the freedom of speech.”
Short is affiliated with the Fellowship Church in Bryan and an A&M
group, the A&M Christian Fellow-

ship.
“He’s a campus evangelist,” said
Christina Kroger from the Fellowship
Church in Bryan, which sponsors the
University organization. “Our church
is part of an organization of churches
that are campus-focused, and it’s called
Great Commission Ministries.”
Kroger surveyed students in the
crowd about their reaction to Short
on Wednesday.
“We bring Tom in every once in

a while, and so we’re taking a survey
of students just to see what they think
about Short and about his message
and what they believe, stuff like that,”
Kroger said.
Some students, such as Colin
Breedlove, a freshman mechanical
engineering major and Luis Fayad, a
freshman political science and history
major, from the Agnostic Atheist StuSee Short on page 2

3/9/11 7:45 PM

1
N
R
E
WEST GES
lly
u
f
BELiqVuoErRBeAer Wine equipped

COME WORSHIP
WITH US

2

A series discussing
early synaptic signaling
deﬁcits in Alzheimer’s
disease will take place
from 4 to 5 p.m. today in
the Interdisciplinary Life
Sciences Building.

2199

A unique congregation
dedicated to
serving our city with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ

Alzheimer
seminar

A&M rodeo

A rodeo involving
participants from 15
schools will compete
from 7 to 10 p.m. today
and Friday at the Brazos
County Expo Center.

Collingwood
Canadian Whisky
750ml
80o

99
19
Captain Morgan

Located just 5 minutes
north of campus on
South College Avenue
at Williamson Drive

Spiced Rum
1.75ltr
99 70o

24

www.lhbcb.org

Today
sunny
High: 69
Low: 40

Vodka
1.75ltr
80o

Sundays 10:30 a.m.
2500 South College Ave.,
in Bryan

3

A discussion about
the deﬁnition of sexual
harassment, types of
sexual harassment and
legal protection will take
place 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
today in room 236 at the
Pavilion.

THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday
through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through
Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and
exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at
College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX
77843-1111.
News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at
Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of
Student Affairs. News ofﬁces are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom
phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@thebatt.com;
website: http://www.thebatt.com.
Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or
endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display
advertising, call 979-845-2696. For classiﬁed advertising, call 979-8450569. Advertising ofﬁces are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and ofﬁce hours
are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678.
Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas
A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free,
additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To
charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979845-2613.

The Battalion
welcomes readers’
comments about
published information
that may require
correction. We will
pursue your concern
to determine whether
a correction needs to
be published. Please
e-mail at editor@
thebatt.com.

munities through church-led
mission trips. Raheem Siraj,
a junior recreational parks and
tourism major, is going with
his church, Antioch Community Church, to the LSU
campus in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.
“I know that a lot of college students like having a
crazy spring break experience.
For me, a lot of it is just hang-

Short
Continued from page 1

dent Group of Texas A&M,
debated with Tom. They argued with many of his points
and responded to many of
his questions. Some students
stood listening with arms
crossed, others talked with the
people standing near them.
Pearson Browne, a junior
recreation parks and tourism
sciences major, sat under a tree
with his laptop facing outward
in his lap and the words “Rational/logical debate available
here” typed on the screen for
passersby to read.
“Today we have a guest on

ing out with some of my best
friends and doing something
that I am passionate about,
which is to serve people. From
an interest or motivation point
of view, it’s the same, but it’s
just how it expresses itself in
my life,” Siraj said.
Many students will take advantage of the snow still covering higher elevations in the
Rocky Mountains. UBSki,
one of the largest winter and
spring break trip providers, offers college students discounted travel and lift tickets to ski

and snowboard at the popular
resorts west of Denver, Colo.,
such as Breckenridge, Vail and
Beaver Creek.
While road trips, whether
to the mountains or beaches,
are popular opportunities, other students use it to catch up
on needed sleep and rest with
family and friends.
“Especially if I am going
back to a round of tests, just
a change of environment and
not having to go to classes
makes all the difference,”
Fuller said.

our campus who feels that the
best way to spread his beliefs
is to offer no logical, rational
debate on the topic and just
to enforce his completely irrational, outspoken beliefs
with no evidence of any truth
behind them,” Browne said.
“He thinks that’s the best way
to spread a message when I’m
over here … just encouraging any students who actually
want to have a conversation
with me to talk about what
their beliefs, what their views
might be so that we can actually get somewhere on this topic
instead of just a standstill back
and forth of pointing fingers,
which it’s always been.”
Browne said students today

are more interested in religion
than before.
“This religion debate is
something that our generation, I think, has taken an extra
strong interest in, and I think
in the next 50 years we’re
probably going to see some
big things happening with it.”
Although students had varying reactions to Tom and his
message, he did get them talking, which was why Kroger
said he came to campus in the
first place.
“The purpose of bringing
him in is to get students talking about their faith and also
to create opportunities to share
the gospel of Jesus,” Kroger
said.

On the road again
Bus trip to Austin
Following an afternoon practice, Texas
A&M’s No. 5 women’s basketball team
walked out of the Cox-McFerrin Center
into a dreary evening in College Station.
One-by-one, the players, coaches,
trainers, managers and a scholastic
supervisor boarded the bus headed to
Austin. Driving along Highway 21, the
bus was mostly silent. The only sounds
heard were soft whispers, laughs and
the overwhelming melody coming from
the back of the bus.

Following the women’s basketball team from College
Station up to tipoff before its game against Texas
Story and photos by Mike Teague | The Battalion

Bus to stadium

Back to hotel
Hopping back on the bus, we returned to
the hotel for a breakfast buffet that could
satisfy the snobbiest of taste buds. With
everyone loaded up on fruit, hash browns,
ham, eggs, cereal and omelets, Schaefer
turned off the lights and turned on the
projector. The team sat around eating in
silence with full attention towards Schaefer
giving his ﬁnal review before game time.
After ﬁlm was over, everyone returned to
their rooms to shower and get ready for the
game. The players got re-taped, styled their
hair and boarded the bus.

A knock on the door early in the morning signals the beginning of game day preparations. The players
come into the room and get their ankles taped and injuries tended by athletic trainer Mike “Radar” Ricke.
As everyone wipes the sleep from their eyes and releases their ﬁnal yawns, the bus downstairs beckons.
Getting off the elevator and walking into the lobby, I noticed Head Coach Gary Blair sitting on a coach
reading the newspaper. The team loaded up on the bus, and we embarked on our morning journey to
the Frank Erwin Center. Passing by all of the beautiful scenery and architecture of downtown Austin, we
eventually get to the arena where we pulled into an underground entrance and entered the stadium.

Pregame

Dinner at Pappadeaux
The bus pulled into the Pappadeaux off I-35
in Austin for the team dinner. As the team
walked into the restaurant and headed
toward a private room in the back, all of
the eyes in the room (a few shining burnt
orange) gravitated toward the sea of
maroon that just ﬂooded the building. After
an enjoyable meal that featured abnormal
amounts of pink lemonade and Shirley
Temples, the team caught a few minutes
of the men’s game at Baylor, then hopped
back on the bus and headed for the hotel.

Morning practice
Walking on to the court, surrounded by a border of empty burnt orange seats, it was hard to imagine a
basketball game was going to be played in six hours. The Aggies stretched and had a little shoot around
before Blair gathered the team at half court. After some words highlighting A&M’s dominance of Texas
women’s basketball on the ﬂoor we were standing on, Blair started offensive drills. He then passed things
over to assistant head coach Vic Schaefer for the defensive portion of practice. Schaefer closed practice
with a speech, brieﬁng his troops on the importance of a win over the hated, but respected Longhorns.

The team entered the stadium and came
out onto the court for shoot-around. The
stadium’s once empty seats slowly ﬁlled
with fans from both schools. Forty minutes
before tip-off, the Aggies headed back into
the locker room for pregame speeches
from Blair and Schaefer. Blair passed
around a set of coins that he had received
throughout his career with the dates of his
major victories. After letting the seniors
each talk about what it meant to them to
beat Texas, the team got up and walked
through the tunnel to take care of business,
which the Aggies did in a 68-65 victory.

Arrive at hotel
Pulling into the luxurious Omni hotel
in downtown Austin was a little
intimidating. Walking into the hotel,
past the ﬂood of tourists, the ﬁrst thing
that came to mind was, “We’re not in
College Station anymore.” We took the
elevator to our rooms located on ﬂoors
higher than 95 percent of the buildings in
College Station. Everyone went off to bed
with an early schedule looming.

strong, a junior political science major.
The UPD stresses the importance of personal safety,
asking students to remember
to always trust their instincts.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am going to make sure
that I never go anywhere by
myself,â&#x20AC;? said Hannah Riley, a
sophomore sociology major.
Spring break has a reputation of being a wild week of
partying. The UPD does not
discredit this but encourages
students to drink responsibly.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only accept drinks from
a licensed bartender or drinks
that you pour yourself. You
put yourself at risk for receiving an altered beverage if you
donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the source of the
drink,â&#x20AC;? Baron said.
Madison Berney , a junior
marketing major, is planning
her nightly outings ahead

thebattalion

of time before she hits the
beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just turned 21, so as a
precaution I plan to alternate
my water and my alcoholic
beverages,â&#x20AC;? Berney said.
The UPD urges students to
let friends, relatives or guardians know when they have
safely arrived at and departed
from destinations.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though I am a college student, I still make sure
to text my mom whenever I
get to a new place so she feels
comfortable,â&#x20AC;? said Mia Tomlinson, a freshman general
studies major.
At the risk of drinking too
much comes the added danger of making bad sexual decisions. Male or female, there
is added pressure from the opposite sex. UPD asks students
to think about what they are
willing to do ahead of time in
case they end up in a compromising situation they are not
comfortable with.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always use the boyfriend
line, even if I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have one
at the time,â&#x20AC;? said Raychel
Clark, a sophomore biomedical sciences major.
Due to an excessive increase in violence from drugtrafficking organizations, the
UPD issued a warning to students vacationing along the
U.S.-Mexico border.
The Bureau of Consular
Affairs of the U.S. Department of State reported U.S.
citizens should expect to encounter military and other
law enforcement checkpoints
when traveling in Mexico.
They are urged to cooperate.
With all of this information in mind, students can expect to have a fun, safe spring
break.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am already counting
down the days for spring
break; I cannot wait,â&#x20AC;? Berney
said.

teers toward becoming active,
life-long citizens and leaders
for social change, committed
to social justice,â&#x20AC;? the website
stated.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an opportunity for students to go and make a difference; to have a better understanding of all the social issues
in the world. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a better way
to use your time,â&#x20AC;? said Jessica
Repko, a senior psychology
major, and chairwoman of the
executive team.
Students who apply and are
accepted to participate in the
organization receive the option to visit several different
locations. This year members
chose between traveling to
Louisiana to help in ongoing
hurricane relief, Tennessee
to work with the Knoxville
Leadership
Organization,
Arizona to volunteer at a
wildlife sanctuary, Arkansas
to gain experience at the Arkansas Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital,
and Costa Rica to help save
endangered sea turtles.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We base our locations on

what is popular, interest of the
student body and social issues
at the time,â&#x20AC;? Repko said.
About 50 to 75 students
attend every spring. This year
approximately 55 students
will participate. Ten to 15 are
often former participants who
return as members or apply to
be site leader and executive
positions.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a wide range of
students based on our locations,â&#x20AC;? Repko said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Huge
diversity from engineering
to geosciences, though some
trips target specific majors.â&#x20AC;?
The veterinary clinic in
Arizona and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospital in Arkansas attracts premed majors, Repko said.
Students leave March 12
and return March 19, with
one day designated as the
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fun day,â&#x20AC;? where the group
enjoys an activity from the local area.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those going to Arizona
are visiting the Grand Canyon
that Friday,â&#x20AC;? Repko said.

ATTORNEYS AT LAW
(Newman Flood is currently accepting new clients charged with all felonies and misdemeanors)

excited to explore San Francisco.
The Cornerstone Program,
a two-year Liberal Arts program, has freshman students
plan and organize an international trip for the Capstone
Experience. This year they
will travel to Budapest, Hungary.
According to the Cornerstoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, previous
classes have visited and studied in Paris, Prague, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna, Brussels and Berlin.
One group of Aggies will
be participating in Alternative Spring Break, a national
student organization within
the Student Government Association.
The purpose of Alternative Spring Break is to â&#x20AC;&#x153;move
enthusiastic, giving students
from being heartfelt volun-

Tips for Graduating Students on Job Hunting, Interviewing & Resume Writing
Written by a College Recruiter

Our Family is Dedicated to Supporting
the Education Community.

Signature Announcements was started by a College Student to bring better
prices, quality and service to students across the U.S.

Texas A&M University is home to over 12,000 trees.
Please respect the beauty, necessity, and historical
value of the trees in Aggieland. Help us clean up
the campus and provide a bike program that
Aggies can be proud of.

$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only
to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at
no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5
additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.

4bd/2ba, one with Jacuzzi tub,
pre-leasing for August, very large
bedrooms and living areas, large
backyard with two car garage,
plenty of off street parking, 1601
woodland, Bryan $1700/mo call
Karla 512-327-1859 or
512-796-0636
4bd/4ba condo for rent. $400 per
person. Call Greg 713-548-6248.

STUDIES IN PROGRESS
ATHLETES FOOT STUDY
Volunteers ages 12 and older are needed to participate in a 6 week clinical
research study with an investigational topical medication for the treatment
of athletes foot. Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost:
• Study Related Medication
• Medical Examinations relating to the study
• Compensation up to $160.00 for time and effort
For more information please contact:

$5,000.00 reward for info leading
to the arrest and conviction of
persons breaking into a car at
Brazos Inn in Bryan Texas on Feb.
13th and steeling rare antique
pocket watches, gold coins, 2-1c
diamond rings, small antiques
and jewelry. Call Gerald at
321-848-6027 or call Bryan TX. police dept.

Large 4-bedroom house, double
garage. Available summer or fall.
832-425-2945.

Leasing agent, part-time, must be
able to work Saturdays,
979-693-1906.
Little Guys Movers now hiring
FT/PT employees. Must be at least
21 w/valid D.L. Apply in person at
3209 Earl Rudder Freeway.
Need a Summer Job? We are hiring life guards for Kingwood
Country Club in Houston Texas.
For more information and to apply call 800-210-0049.

SERVICES
texaslovestickets.com The ticket
solution for any size event. Cont a c t
u s
a t
sales@texaslovestickets.com for
more info.

TUTORS
Need a Tutor? Friendly, helpful
one-on-one private tutors for all
subjects at TAMU/Blinn and Sam
Houston State. Check us out at
www.99tutors.com, 979-255-3655.
Online math tutor. $8.50/hr.
Calculus I/II, Trig, Business Math.
http://JimmieMathTutoring.blogspot.com
If You Have Something To Sell,
Remember Classiﬁeds Can Do It!
Call 845-0569

the battalion

IN PRINT • ONLINE
News
Sports
Voices
Mailcall

Photos
Comics
AP News
Classiﬁeds

www.AggieNetwork.com

www.thebatt.com

WORD SQUARE

ANSWERS TO
YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE:

C
L
A
P

L
Y
R
E

A
R
E
A

P
E
A
T

Clues:
1. A crustacean, a person born when the sun is in Cancer
2. Uncommon, also a reference to gases found in low concentrations
3. Generally ﬁne, also studies to provide general knowledge
and intellectual skill
4. Superlatively good
Surakshith Sampath — THE BATTALION

Aggieland 2012
QualiďŹ cations for editor-in-chief of the Aggieland
yearbook are:
REQUIRED
t #FB5FYBT".TUVEFOUJOHPPETUBOEJOHXJUIUIF6OJWFSTJUZ
BOEFOSPMMFEJOBUMFBTUTJYDSFEJUIPVST JGBHSBEVBUFTUVEFOU
during the term of ofďŹ ce (unless fewer credits are required to
graduate);
t )BWFBUMFBTUBDVNVMBUJWFHSBEFQPJOUSBUJP JGB
graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25
if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to
the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester
during the term of ofďŹ ce. In order for this provision to be met,
BUMFBTUTJYIPVST JGBHSBEVBUFTUVEFOU
NVTUIBWFCFFO
taken for that semester;
PREFERRED
t )BWFDPNQMFUFE+063PS$0.. .BTT
Communication, Law, and Society) and ARTS 203 (Graphic
Design I), or equivalent;
t )BWFEFNPOTUSBUFEBCJMJUZJOXSJUJOHUISPVHIVOJWFSTJUZ
DPVSTFXPSLPSFRVJWBMFOUFYQFSJFODF
t )BWFBUMFBTUPOFZFBSFYQFSJFODFJOBSFTQPOTJCMFQPTJUJPOPO
the Aggieland or comparable college yearbook.

Application forms should be picked up and returned to
Sandi Jones, Student Media business coordinator, in room
013 of Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell
Tower and Cain Hall). Deadline for submitting application:
5 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2011.
An equal opportunity, afďŹ rmative action employer committed to diversity

SWAMP club raises
money for festival
Ryan Haughey
The Battalion
With swagger, flashy
costumes and a desire to
rock out, the competitors at
the Aggie Screen Writing,
Acting and Movie Production Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fundraiser for the
Texas Film Festival may have
enough energy to almost
mask the one thing theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re
missing: a guitar.
Friday, the Skyy Bar at
Schotziâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Northgate will
welcome one of Texas A&Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
more unique fundraiser ideas:
an air guitar competition.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of thing
that anyone can do,â&#x20AC;? said
event organizer Ben Johnson.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;With air guitar, all it takes is
someone who is willing to cut
loose and have a good time.â&#x20AC;?
Johnson, a senior communication major, was inspired
to start the event after watching the movie Air Guitar
Nation, a documentary about
the 2003 World Air Guitar
Championships. When Aggie
SWAMP was searching for a
way to raise money to put on
the Texas Film Festival in the
beginning of April, Johnson
thought it would be a novel
approach to fundraising.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted to promote
Texas Film Festival in a
unique way to catch peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
attention,â&#x20AC;? said Keller Davis,
a senior telecommunications media studies major and
SWAMP president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[The Air
Guitar Competition] should
be something [students] go
out of their way to attend
because I guarantee that they
will have a blast.â&#x20AC;?
The whole reason for the
competition is the Texas Film
Festival, which SWAMP will
be presenting for the first time
on April 1.
Once the largest studentrun film festival in the nation
featuring famed directors
such as Spike Lee and Oliver
Stone, the Texas Film Festival was canceled in 2005
due to budget problems.
However, this past summer,
SWAMP acquired the rights
to the festival and now is
working hard to restore it to
its former glory.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Film festivals offer a really
unique experience that you
rarely get to see,â&#x20AC;? said Jensen
Yancey, a senior psychology
major. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are tons of new
stories unlike anything that
you see coming out of the

Hollywood system. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just
a much different experience
when the filmmaker is there
with you in the audience.â&#x20AC;?
Yancey, who is the director of the film festival, said
the event used to be a big
deal to the University, and
that he hopes to help it become the cultural landmark
that it once was.
Like the festival, the air
guitar competition is geared
to all audiences. Anyone is
welcome to enter; the cost includes a $5 cover at the door
of Schotziâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paid by audience
members and competitors.
Aside from the badge of
honor earned by the victor
of the event, who will be
evaluated based on technical merit, showmanship and
costume, the winner will
also receive a $25 gift card to
Cinemark and two free passes
to attend the festival.
Interested competitors can
contact SWAMP or Johnson
to register.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great way to kick off
the spring break experience,â&#x20AC;?
said Johnson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;College is one
of those times you get to do
something that you never
would elsewhere. How often
do you get to be the greatest air
guitarist in College Station?â&#x20AC;?
In addition to organizing
the event, Johnson said he is
also excited to provide some
opening entertainment before
the actual event begins with a
performance of his own.
His routine?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just have to come
to find out.â&#x20AC;?
Yancey summed up the
whole appeal of the contest
rather simply.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to put
on a costume and dance
around on stage to 80s music?
Even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not planning
on competing, how could
you not have fun watching all
the performances?â&#x20AC;?
Whether a casual observer
or seasoned air guitar veteran,
the competition has an appeal
for everyone, Davis said. He
said the contest promises a
good time to all.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The great thing about
competing is that literally
anyone can do it. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no
right or wrong way, so the
most important thing for you
to represent is your passion for
the music,â&#x20AC;? Davis said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But
rock legend costumes wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
hurt either.â&#x20AC;?

THE TEXAS A&M STUDENT MEDIA BOARD
INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR

Editor

thebattalion
SERVING TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SINCE 1893

Summer 2011

Fall 2011â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Spring 2012

(The summer editor will serve
May 15 through Aug. 13, 2011)

(The fall and spring editor will serve
Aug. 14, 2011, through May 12, 2012)

REQUIRED
t #FB5FYBT".TUVEFOUJOHPPETUBOEJOHXJUIUIF6OJWFSTJUZBOE
FOSPMMFEJOBUMFBTUTJYDSFEJUIPVST JGBHSBEVBUFTUVEFOU
EVSJOH
the term of ofďŹ ce (unless fewer credits are required to graduate);
t )BWFBUMFBTUBDVNVMBUJWFHSBEFQPJOUSBUJP JGBHSBEVBUF
student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate
student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the
semester of appointment and semester during the term of ofďŹ ce. In
PSEFSGPSUIJTQSPWJTJPOUPCFNFU
BUMFBTUTJYIPVST JGBHSBEVBUF
student) must have been taken for that semester.
PREFERRED
t Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication,
Law, and Society) or equivalent;
t )BWFBUMFBTUPOFZFBSFYQFSJFODFJOBSFTQPOTJCMFFEJUPSJBM
position on The Battalion or comparable daily college newspaper,
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OR â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
)BWFBUMFBTUPOFZFBSFEJUPSJBMFYQFSJFODFPOBDPNNFSDJBM
newspaper,
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OR â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
Have completed at least 12 hours in journalism, including
JOUR 203 (Media Writing I) and JOUR 303 (Media Writing II) or
+063 &EJUJOHGPSUIF.BTT.FEJB
PSFRVJWBMFOU

Please call 1-800-345-5273 or visit www.dillards.com to order from home.

Earn rewards on every purchase to get 10% off All-Day Shopping Passes.*

*

Not a Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cardmember? Open a new account today and receive a 10% Off All-Day Welcome Shopping Pass in your 1st statement when you spend $100 the day you open your account (maximum discount $100).**
* See Rewards Program terms for details.
** Subject to credit approval. To qualify for this offer, you must open a Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Credit Card or Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American ExpressÂŽ Card account and make $100 of net purchases (merchandise less tax, adjustments and returns) with your Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Credit Card or Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American Express Card at Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stores
or dillards.com the same day you open your account. The 10% Welcome Shopping Pass will be sent to you in your ďŹ rst statement and is valid for 10% off all merchandise purchases up to $1,000 (maximum discount $100) made in-store or online at dillards.com on the day of your choice. Shopping
Pass must be used by the expiration date printed on the pass. Employees, ofďŹ cers and directors of Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inc. are not eligible for this offer.
The Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American ExpressÂŽ Card is issued and administered by GE Money Bank. American Express is a federally registered service mark of American Express and is used by GE Money Bank pursuant to a license.

Pg. 6-03.10.11.indd 1

Application forms should be picked up and returned to
Sandi Jones, Student Media business coordinator, in room 013
of Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower
and Cain Hall). Deadline for submitting application: 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011.
An equal opportunity, afďŹ rmative action employer committed to diversity